West Tampa Tobacco Co. (WTTC) spent its PCA Show highlighting three cigars—one it introduced last year but didn’t appear on the market until earlier this year, and two all-new releases.
The cigar from last year, Circle of Life, is a collaboration between WTTC co-founder Rick Rodriguez and one of his mentor’s Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. While Perez-Carrillo taught Rodriguez many lessons in the premium tobacco business, he urged his former student not to start a new cigar company—advice that Rodriguez thankfully ignored. The two came together last year to create a medium-bodied cigar that’s complex and available in three sizes: Robusto (5 x 52), Toro (6 x 54) and Gigante (6 x 60) with MSRPs ranging from $12.99-$14.99.
With Devil Crab, one of its new releases, WTTC draws from Tampa’s rich culinary heritage. A 4.5 x 60 Figurado, Devil Crab’s shape was inspired by the Deviled Crab croquettas popular in the area. Packaged in 50-count boxes, Devil Crab is made at Garmendia Cigar Co. in Nicaragua and has an MSRP of $12.99 per cigar.
While WTTC has specialized in creating cigars that are budget-conscious, it is using the 2025 PCA Show to release its first super-premium cigar, Dark Time. The blend dates back to WTTC’s founding and has been resting for three years, waiting for its debut. Available in one size, a 6 x 54 Toro, Dark Time has a $29.99 MSRP. Packaged in 10-count boxes, Dark Time is truly a premium cigar as each box features a custom-made cutter that looks like a Rolex watch face.
